This book took me by surprise, it started off a little slow, I found the characters hard to connect with and I just didn't believe their story, a few chapters in and it was as if the smoke had cleared, I believed it. I had a flag that I was waving for our miscommunicating main characters and I was all in.

I found myself however, frustrated by just how blind they were written to it, but I really adored the confessional point, it gave me the fuzzies.

The book was narrated well, I felt like at times the pace could have been quicker, but it worked well and as I said, I enjoyed it.

Calling this grumpy/sunshine seems a bit misleading. From the start, it's clear he's not that grumpy and she's not a pushover. But that's pretty much my only real complaint about this book. I liked the characters, I liked their banter, and I liked how their relationship progressed.

She doesn't think their relationship makes sense because he has always dated thin models and she is very much a fat normal person. Meanwhile, he is absolutely clear from the get-go that he is very very into her. Loved it!

This is very much aimed at the 'Ted Lasso' crowd, especially the ones who wouldn't mind getting to know Roy Kent a bit better (guilty as charged). But don't think it's all saccharine cutesiness. There's some very decent steam in this.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a typical grumpy-guy-meets-happy-go-lucky-girl story, where at first the guy doesn't want to come out of his shell, but the girl entices and coaxes him and suddenly he's not only out of his shell, but he's out there with his extremely sexy his body and all kinds of incredible moves, and swipes the girl off her feet.
Once the initial euphoria wears off, suspicions rise their heads - is she doing all this to get every personal moment from me for the book/is he doing it because he feels sorry for me, because just look at me and look at him, how can he actually like me. The people outside of their writing bubble do not help with their jealousy or misunderstandings or just plain maliciousness. But this is one of those romantic stories that will have a beautiful ending.
Nice listening in nice weather.

I want to say thank u NetGalley for the advanced Arc of this book as an audiobook

This book is a fast read and does engage you into the story which I can see many people loving, it also gives me the insta love vibes because their is no real build up in the characters in my eyes to form a bond over. The insta love feeling was one thing I did not like about the book because the characters where not flushed out really in any way for me to form an attachment to (which is what helps me care about what happens in the story to the characters). It was enjoyable to listen to but I don't see this as a book I will remember really (but I can see many loving it).

A light fluffy read with a premise that sounded promising, but I was unable to get lost in the story or the characters. I was not sold on their personalities or reactions.

Thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan UK Audio for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by Charlotte Stein is a delightful and steamy romantic comedy that explores the unlikely but sizzling chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his exuberant ghostwriter. The premise alone promises a fun and engaging read, and Stein delivers with humor, heart, and a hefty dose of spice.

The story follows Alfie Harding, a retired footballer who is reluctantly coerced into writing his memoirs. Alfie, who detests revealing anything about himself and is generally allergic to emotions, is paired with the bubbly and persistent ghostwriter, Mabel Willicker. Their professional relationship takes an unexpected turn when the public mistakes their business arrangement for a budding romance, forcing them to pretend to be a couple. As they navigate this ruse, their faux romance starts to feel increasingly real, sparking a chemistry that neither can ignore.

The characters of Alfie and Mabel are beautifully crafted and wonderfully dynamic. Alfie, with his grumpy exterior and blunt demeanor, contrasts sharply with Mabel's sunshine-y disposition and warm, kind nature. Mabel’s ability to draw out Alfie’s hidden depths and emotions is both heartwarming and entertaining. Their banter and bickering add a delightful tension to the story, making their evolving relationship all the more engaging.

The romance in "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" is a slow burn, gradually building from playful banter to undeniable attraction. The transition from a professional relationship to a fake romance, and eventually to something real, is handled with charm and wit. The chemistry between Alfie and Mabel is palpable, making their interactions both steamy and sweet. The fake relationship trope is executed flawlessly, providing ample opportunities for humorous and heartwarming moments.

Charlotte Stein’s writing is sharp, witty, and full of life. The narrative is peppered with laugh-out-loud moments and clever dialogue, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read. The pacing is well-balanced, keeping the reader hooked from start to finish. The descriptive writing brings the characters and their world to life, making it easy to get lost in their story.

Beyond the romance, the book touches on themes of self-discovery, vulnerability, and the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Alfie’s journey from a closed-off, emotionally distant individual to someone capable of love and openness is particularly compelling. Mabel’s determination and positivity serve as a wonderful counterpoint, highlighting the transformative power of love and connection.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" is a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy that delivers on its promise of opposites attract. With its well-developed characters, witty banter, and steamy romance, it’s a book that will keep you entertained from start to finish. The dynamic between Alfie and Mabel is electric, making their journey from reluctant collaborators to a genuine couple both satisfying and delightful.

Thank you once again to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this enchanting book. Charlotte Stein has crafted a story that is sure to resonate with fans of romantic comedies and slow burn romances. If you're looking for a lighthearted and steamy read with plenty of laughs, "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" is a must-read.

I absolutely devoured this book.
The humour was so precise and absolutely Talia Hibbert coded (that may just be the dry British humour) and I loved every second.
The Roy Kent vibes, the perfect grumpy/sunshine romance, the forced proximity, the way he’s the softest guy despite the gruff outer shell.
I absolutely loved the book and the plus size representation just knocked it out of the park.

I had a great time listening to this!

If I was to describe this book in one word it would be 'horny'

I really loved both main characters and how opposite they appeared at first and how different they were. I loved that they both brought each other out of their shells and we're doing things they were uncomfortable with just because they loved the other person

I really liked the inclusion of social media posts and news articles at the end of each chapter from other people talking about their relationship, it was so fun and unique

I wish we saw more of them together post 3rd act break up

I enjoyed the narration for the most part, however I did struggle at times to work out who was talking (just by the sound of the narrators voice) or if parts were being spoken or they were just thoughts

- fake dating
- famous ex footballer X ghost writer
- British main characters

When curvy ghost writer Mabel meets a famous ex footballer Alfie, things take an unexpected turn. Thrown together by work, they enter into a fake relationship, which can only end in tears, or can it? A raunchy, laugh out loud book, if you are offended easily though, watch out fire lots of swearing.

Unfortunately I had many issues trying to listen to this audiobook. When I finally got through a few chapters it refused to continue so will have to purchase the book to continue. From what I've listened to so far, I enjoyed where the story was going and how it was written so will continue.

Don't let the cutesy title turn you off. This is a fun book. i enjoyed the writing and the narration and would read other books by this author.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a banter-filled romcom following Mabel, a bubbly and bright ghostwriter, and Aflie a famous retired footballer in need of help writing his memoir. When the two get close while detailing Alfie's life, they find themselves falling for each other further when their relationship is discovered by the public and the two are forced to pretend to be a couple.

My Roy Kent loving heart is conflicted! While I enjoyed every minute of this charming romcom, the writing was so lengthy yet choppy; I couldn't follow what was being said half the time. Their banter and honest relationship kept me invested the whole time, but, I couldn't overlook the writing. While I had a great time reading this, I think it needed a whole lot more editing and proofreading. I also found issue with the one-year separation and time skip in the last 10% of the book; the ending was rushed and completely out of character with the story and plot. Despite my issues with the writing and ending, I did very much enjoy the story and will absolutely be on the lookout for more from Charlotte Stein!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Charlotte Stein for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounding up to 3 stars 🌟

Grumpy/sunshine is one of my favourite troupes so I knew I just had to pick this up after reading the synopsis.

I loved the fact that the book opens up with content warnings so you know what to expect. I also loved that it was set in the North of England and full of British humour.
I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed the narrators voice which kept me engaged.

I did enjoy that we get the grumpiness immediately and our love interest meet basically straight away. I think that Alfie was suitably grumpy and Mabel is a Ray of sunshine I found that the execution of the storyline didn't fully work and the miscommunication between them annoyed me. It would have been better to have had a dual POV to see Alfies side of things and to see how their miscommunications played out from the other side.

Overall the book didn't quite hit the mark for me when it had the potential to have been great.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan UK Audio, and Charlotte Stein for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the start of this book, but ended up DNF at about 36%. This was partly due to the unnecessary overuse of the F word. I think the editor needed to highlight there are other swear words available. I also wasn't drawn into the characters' stories enough to continue.

This is a very sweet and charming rom-com
, grumpy/sunshine, and fake -dating type of book. I couldn't stop giggling at the banter in this novel late into the night. It's fantastic that authors are writing plus-sized characters as well; this makes the book incredibly inclusive and suitable for all readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan, Uk for a copy of this book in exchanged for an honest review.

HAPPY PUBLICATION WEEK!

As lighthearted romance books go, this was nice as long as you didn’t think too much into it. There were various plot holes and it felt kind of ‘pick me’ at moments. I liked the idea of the ending however it just didn’t feel completely polished.

The audio narration was lovely though. Something about northern accents always puts me into the zone.

I was sent an audiobook ARC of this via Netgally in return for an honest review.

This was a highly anticipated release, as a huge fan of Ted Lasso a Roy Kent inspired romance was going to capture my attention!

Unfortunately this didn't land for me and no one is more devastated than me. This is sold as grumpy x sunshine with Alfie, our MMC being sold as a stubborn, scary, pain-in-the-ass ex-footballer but that doesn't come across in the book. He falls for Mabel so quickly and explains away why he asks how he does immediately after the first meet. He quickly becomes charming and lovely and this lives the "grump" park of the entire book. Mabel, the FMC is charming and bubbly but lacks emotional depth. I needed some back story, the reason she is so afraid of commitment.
This had the bones of a great book but wasn't executed well.

This was so cute and a lovely rom-com! 😊

Even though there was of course a misunderstanding and breakup in the end, for most of the book the characters managed to actually talk to each other and be honest and respectful with each other which was lovely. Maybel is so sweet and Alfie is just great, I'm always a sucker for soft men!

I listened to this as an audiobook and after taking a while to get used to the narrator, I really enjoyed it. She has a rather strong accent but that fit the story well and I enjoyed listening to her. I'm not sure if it's because of the audiobook but some bits were dragging a bit, like the newspaper clippings or tweets at the ends of chapters. I also found that the conversations had a little much anticipating what the other would say which slowed them down unnecessarily at times. Still the writing was fun without being overly quirky and laden with pop culture references, like many romance novels tend to be at the moment.

So overall a very fun book with cute characters and a sweet love story 💚

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audiobook 😊

*I listened to this on audiobook*

This was a very enjoyable read! Mabel is hired to ghost write for retired famous footballer Alfie’s memoir. Its opposites attract heaven from here as she tries to coax his story out of him with her cheerfulness and silliness while he remains gruff and uptight. He gradually begins to melt for her but their developing romantic feelings start to become too overwhelming for Mabel. The characters are endearingly funny, especially Alfie - I love his blundering and pained responses to everything Mabel does and says. It’s pretty swoony to read them falling for each other despite their differences, and to see Mabel bring out the real Alfie.

What to expect:

- fake dating
- celebrity romance
- he falls first
- grumpy x sunshine
- quite spicy

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein. At a first glance, the cover is amazing but the title sounds like it wants to attract attention purely on the popular grumpy/sunshine trope rather than the actual story.
Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one. I didn’t connect to any of the characters and the ‘grumpy’ mmc was actually just rude.
The scene where Alfie screams ‘fuck’ 20 times and Mabel’s inner monologue goes into detail about what a ‘symphony’ it was and how beautiful the song was honestly hard to listen to. I was unable to finish it and ended up dnf’ing at 50% because I didn’t like the writing style or the main girl’s inner monologue and I had no interest in seeing how it ended.